Incredible opportunity for a developer, new urbanist design team, hospitality business, or a family who wants the most phenomenal estate and private mountain escape - there is nothing like this on the market, not just in Blue Ridge, but anywhere! Just over an hour north of Atlanta, this 38.6 acre property known as "Inola" is nestled in a forest, just 1 mile from downtown Blue Ridge, seen by over 500,000 visitors each year to neighbor Mercier Orchards, a short drive to Lake Blue Ridge, and surrounded by all the natural amenities of the Blue Ridge mountains. And absolutely teeming with opportunity. A family may want to buy Inola to enjoy the unparalleled beauty and quality of the existing estate, gorgeous vistas, hiking trails, trophy bass and trout fishing in the Trout Capitol of Georgia, and ready-built guest houses for their entire family. An entrepreneur or hospitality group could capitalize on the already thriving special events business. Or, this property has the potential to be a one-of-a-kind, first in Blue Ridge, new urbanist style development - the current owners worked with internationally renowned land planners to develop plans for homes to be built in either the traditional new urbanist town style, or a more traditional neighborhood with only 10 estate lots. If you have a developer's vision, you'll recognize Inola as a ripe opportunity. The property includes the world's largest collection of exact replica, colonial Williamsburg-style buildings, including homes, a 75+ seat chapel surrounded by formal English garden, stables, barns, gardens, tavern/inn, post office, and shops along the roughly 1/4 mile long "main street" with pea gravel road and white fences. The colonial buildings are the most period-perfect in the U.S., with all trim, hardware, handmade windows and glass, floors, moldings, fireplaces and even each color, size and number of bricks for the facades meticulously recreated over a 10 year construction period. Built by an eccentric visionary in the 1980s and painstakingly cared for, renovated and improved by the current owners, the estate has taken on a new life as an upscale mixed-use property with weddings and special events, and a desirable movie location. The focal point of the property is the Wythe Mansion, an impressive exact replica of the famous Williamsburg estate, including its out buildings, formal gardens, stables, working kitchen, caretaker's cottage. The newest addition is a 2,000 square foot luxury suite on the top floor. In total at Inola, there are over 15 bedrooms, 12 full baths, and 5 1/2 baths. Voted as "Best Destination Wedding Venue in Georgia 2022, 2023 & 2024" by Jezebel & Modern Luxury Wedding magazines and voted "Couples Choice Award 2022, 2023 & 2024" by readers of Wedding Wire & The Knot - Inola has a successful, built-in special events business, with room to grow. "Wetherburn's Tavern" is an exact replica of the Williamsburg famed Tavern and Inn, with event space and guest suites. The Orchard Pavilion is the main event venue, adjacent to the Wythe home and formal English gardens. The 6,000 square foot, opulent pavilion style tent overlooks beautiful pasture land and 2+ acre Sugar Lake. Infrastructure can perfectly accommodate large events, with wifi throughout the grounds, plenty of parking, pea gravel covering 90% of the roads, all underground utilities, three phase power, and 1 gig of fiber. Just outside Inola's 38+ acres, Blue Ridge is known for superb shopping and a wide variety of restaurants, breweries and outdoor recreation. Lake Blue Ridge with its marina and five thousand acres of beauty offers water recreation of all kinds. Fannin County is the official Trout Capitol of Georgia. Hiking trails and waterfalls on the USFS land provide a connection to the natural world. This is a rare opportunity for an irreplaceable private estate, business or development. Call us today to tour the property and discuss all options.
